San Diego -- Recruits learn early on in training that a part of being a Marine is to be ready for any situation and to always have a back-up plan just in case something unexpected happens.
Recruit with Charlie Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, began learning bayonet techniques and how to apply them at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Nov. 5.
Prior to the Pugil Sticks event, recruits received their initial classes on the basic bayonet techniques and ran through a portion of the bayonet assault course. The course was comprised of different obstacles ranging from shallow trenches to crawling under barbed wire.
“This was the first time that these recruits experienced any type of bayonet techniques,” said Sgt. Cesar D. Martinez, drill instructor, Platoon 1051.
According to Martinez, a native of Miami, the recruits face each other during the Pugil Stick event to instill the fighting spirit and reiterate what they learned. “Pugil Sticks bouts put recruits in a real life situation,” said Martinez. “They get to see how what they are being taught actually works in a scenario.”
One end of the 5-foot pugil stick resembles a rifle with the bayonet attached and the other end represents the butt-stock, explained Martinez.
Each recruit was given protective gear such as a helmet, groin protector, flak jacket and mouth piece, because once in the arena they use full force.
Recruits were told to play the role of offense or defense. The recruits conducted three 30-second bouts using the techniques they had learned throughout all of their classes and events to give the opponent a striking blow to head, explained Recruit Chance J. Romero, Platoon 1049.
While pugil sticks is one of the more popular events in recruit training, it also serves a purpose beyond the physical training.
“Pugil Sticks is a confidence booster,” said 25-year-old Martinez. “Most of these recruits have never been in a real fight before, so at the beginning they are nervous, but each time that we do this event, they will feel more and more comfortable.”
During the course of recruit training, Charlie Company will step into the ring three more times. Each time the difficulty level will increase.
“They don’t know the techniques well now,” said Martinez. “But when they are facing each other in the Crucible they will look more confident and comfortable in the ring.”